Device to assist in the throwing of a cast net

ABSTRACT

A device for throwing a cast net that facilitates the throwing and improved deployment of said cast net. The device is predominatly disc shaped and contains a multiplicity of radial openings that span an area from near the periphery of said disc to a central portion of the disk. The device is attached to a typical cast net by passing the individual draw strings from the central hub of the net, down through the separate radial openings in the disc shaped device, to the weighted peripheral line of the cast net. The device provides the means for imparting a uniform centrifugal motion to the weighted cord of a typical cast net, then allows the draw strings to freely slide through the device while the net expands. After net deployment, the device then allows the draw strings to move from a point near the circumference of the device to a central portion of the hub of the device upon retrieval.

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] This invention relates to cast nets used for fishing, specifically to an improved method of deploying cast nets.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Nets have been used for many centuries for the capture of fish and other aquatic life. These nets come in many shapes and sizes to meet several different applications and quarry sizes.

[0004] One net in particular is called a cast net. It is comprised of a netlike fabric, typically disc shaped in it's deployed configuration with a thicker weighted cord attached to the circumference of the net. Radial draw strings are tied in even increments to the circumference of the weighted cord and are routed and joined, through a central hub, to the central part of the net, much similar to the spokes on a bicycle wheel.

[0005] In normal casting operation, the cast net is first grasped towards the central hub, with the weighted cord hanging downwards. The net then exhibits a vertical and predominately conical shape with the central hub portion in the raised position and the weighted circumference in the lower position in a scalloped circular pattern. During deployment, it then becomes the operators task to accurately transform the conical shaped net into a predominately planar disc shaped net, while at the same time directing this disc shaped net upon the water surface above the aquatic life being sought.

[0006] Upon contacting the water, the weighted cord around the perimeter of the net rapidly descends in the water column and the aquatic animals are restrained between the net and either the water floor or the weighted net perimeter as the net returns to a predominately conical configuration. The draw string lines are then slowly retrieved while the central hub of the net gravitates downward and eventually comes to rest in close proximity to the weighted periphery of the net. At this point, the net has been transformed into a generally toroidal shape, thus entrapping the aquatic animals within the net.

[0007] While the construction of a typical net is simple, the mechanics of throwing one is far more difficult. It takes many hours of practice to achieve a somewhat consistent circular deployment. The almost universal method of achieving the net transformation from the vertical conical configuration to a horizontal disc configuration involves lifting a portion of the weighted cord and applying centrifugal force to the remaining weighted cord by swinging the entire net around the operator in a motion similar to an Olympic Hammer toss. The weighted circumference of the net then will hopefully provide the centrifugal force necessary to pull outwardly on the net and to expand the diameter of the weighted cord, thus the diameter of the cast net.

[0008] Many of the traditional methods of throwing a cast net require placing portions of the wet and dirty net either held in one's mouth, or placed over one's shoulder or arm. Even with hours of practice, these methods are inconsistent. Often a potentially good throw is spoiled by having the net catch on nearby upright objects such as boat seats, fishing poles, landing nets, or snag on the buckles and buttons of the operator.

[0009] Most currently used throwing methods also require that the net be swung around the operator through at least a 270 degree rotation, which means that the operator must turn his back and temporarily loose sight of the intended moving target.

[0010] As can be well imagined, the successful deployment of said cast nets can only be reasonably assured in the hands of trained and practiced individual. The weekend fisherman rarely becomes efficient enough at throwing a cast net to use the net as his primary source of bait and shrimp, and is thus forced to rely upon the expensive and inconsistent supply of bait fish from bait shops.

[0011] In spite of the antiquity of such nets, little has been done to facilitate the ease of use or their deployment. U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,448 addresses a conical device that attempts to pre-form the weighted portion of vertically held net into a more circular shape. The device then becomes the throwing device. Unfortunately this device requires the operator to hold the entire weight of the net, which can total 3-15 pounds, solely by the strength of the operator's wrist. This action can become quickly tiring. This device also does nothing to provide centrifugal motion to the weighted cord other than to swing them in unison while contained in the cone shaped pan.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,061 claims to facilitate the deployment of a cast net by providing a means of holding up a portion of the weighted cord rather than having the operator place a portion of the dirty weighted cord in his teeth. Although marginally advantageous for smaller nets, the use of this device on larger nets is ineffective because the longer nets would drag on the ground.

[0013] Recently, attempts have been made to facilitate the deployment of cast nets by rigidly affixing a ring to the central hub portion of the net. The purpose of said device is to hold the leading portion of the conically held net open prior to throwing, much the same as the multitude of the current casting methods that require the operators to hold the leading portion of the net in their teeth or over their shoulders. This design does nothing to address the imparting of a centrifugal motion to the individual weights other than to swing them, in unison around the operator similar to the many other methods previously mentioned. In addition, this device is only practical for use on smaller three to five foot radius nets because the deployment requires an obstacle free area around the operator greater than the radius of the net, and like the many other casting methods, requires the operator to lose sight of his target as the net is swung through a circle in excess of 270 degrees. In addition, the centripetal force required to manipulate larger heavier nets with a very large radius would prove to be destructive to the netting fabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The primary objective of this invention is to provide a device which is easy to use and provides for a more effective and consistent deployment of a cast net by even the novice operator.

[0015] Another objective of this invention is to effectively separate and pre-align the scalloped portions of a vertically hung cast into a circular configuration, and to prevent tangling when thrown, while at the same time, not restricting the effective opening and closing of the net.

[0016] Another objective of this invention is to provide centrifugal force at or near the multitude of peripheral weights rather than at some point further up the netting fabric.

[0017] Another objective of this invention is to reduce the circumferential and lower body clearance area required to launch a cast net such as while in waist deep water, or on a boat or pier with raised obstructions within a several foot radius.

[0018] Another objective of this invention is to provide a method of throwing of a cast net that does not require the operator to rotate and loose sight of the moving target prior to throwing.

[0019] Another objective of this invention is to provide an improved cast net throwing device that is particularly effective on nets of all of the commonly used radiuses from three to nine feet and more.

[0020] Another objective of this invention is to provide a cast net throwing device that is unaffected by wind, and that can be used with equal effectiveness on targets from zero to twenty plus feet from the operator.

[0021] These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon upon consideration of the following description and claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The apparatus described in this invention is comprised of a predominately disk shaped object of a generally circular shape with radially positioned openings. For manufacturing and assembly purposes, this device can be made of a single or multiple pieces. There is one opening for each draw string, and the device is attached to the cast net by passing a draw string from the central hub, down through each opening, and then securing the end of the draw string to the weighted cord. In larger nets with a large number of draw strings, more than one draw string might be routed through the same opening. The multitude of elongated radial openings allow for free movement of the draw string lines from a position near the periphery of the device to a central position of the device while maintaining each draw string in a consistent peripheral position. The device is not rigidly attached to the net, but is allowed to slide freely on the draw strings from the weighted cord around the periphery of the net upwardly to the central hub of the net as the net deploys and transforms from a generally conical shaped net to a disc shaped net.

[0023] During deployment the cast net is held in a vertical position such that the throwing device slides to the bottom or weighted portion of the net at the junction of the draw string lines and the weighted cord. The netting material and draw strings are then grasped at some point above the weighted bottom of the net. In this throwing position, the device insures the separation of each individual draw string line as well as forms the lower portion of the net into a circular configuration.

[0024] During the toss, the operator directs the net and device in a predominately horizontal direction while imparting a circular momentum to the device, typical to the motion imparted to a popular child's plastic throwing disc.

[0025] This circular motion imparts a true centrifugal force to the all sections of the weighted cord which then immediately begins to expand rapidly in diameter thus expanding the net. The expanding diameter causes the draw string lines to be drawn downward and through the multiplicity of openings while simultaneously causing the throwing device to migrate to a central position of the now predominately disc shaped net.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027]FIG. 1 is a cut away isometric view of the device attached to a typical cast net in the normal pre-throwing conical configuration. It shows the device 16 at it's extreme end of travel towards the weighted peripheral weighted line 18. The multiplicity of draw strings lines 12 are routed through the central hub 20, then through the multiplicity of openings 14 in the device 16 and are then attached to the weighted line 18.

[0028]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an operator holding the net and device combination in the preferred throwing position.

[0029]FIG. 3 is a top cut away view of the net and device after full deployment prior to contacting the water. Note that the device 16 no longer contacts the weighted net cord 18, as it did prior to throwing, but the multiplicity of draw strings lines 12 have now passed through the multiplicity of openings in the device 16, and the device now resides towards the center of the net 10.

[0030]FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 section A-A attached to a retrieved net. It shows the net 10 and device 16 after full retrieval, and prior to removal of all aquatic matter. It shows that the draw string lines have been retrieved through the central hub 20. In addition, the draw strings 12 and weighted line 18 are no longer near the device 16 circumference, but have now been moved through the elongated openings towards the central portion of the device 16 and have trapped the aquatic animals in the torroidal shaped netting enclosure 10.

[0031]FIG. 5, 6, 7, and 8 show a only few of the multitude of potential openings possible while achieving the many embodiments of this invention. 

What I clam is:
 1. A device to assist in the throwing of a cast net comprising: (a) a generally disc shaped device having a plurality of predetermined openings extending radially from a position near the center of the device to a position near the edge of the device, (b) the multiplicity of said openings confining the multiplicity of draw strings and maintaining their circumferential position relative to each other and allow the centrifugal force to be applied in close proximity to the weighted cord of a cast net. 1a. The device in claim 1 attached to a cast net. 1b. The device in claim 1 manufactured in single or multiple pieces. 1c. The device in claim 1 employing circular openings rather than elongated openings, and a means of allowing said openings to travel in a similar path from a peripheral position to a central position of the predominately disc or ring shaped device.
 2. A device to assist in the throwing of a cast net comprising: A device that loosely attaches to a cast net draw strings and provides a means for applying a centrifugal force in close proximity to the weighted cord of a cast net yet does not interfere with the deployment or retrieval of said net. Where a typical cast net easily and consistently thrown in an enlarged circular pattern and can be retrieved without interfering with the characteristics of the net. 